Convertible chair.



R. MOSKO WITS.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

' APPLICATION FILED 1120.19, 1911.

1,026,276. Patented May 14, 1912.

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RUDOLPH MOSKOWITS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Application filed December 19, 1911. Serial No. 666,817.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH MosKowI'rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a convertible chair which can be changed into a rockingchair, a reclining chair and also a cradle or crib for bab es; the object of the-invention is to provide a convertible chair which can be converted into other articles of furniture for different uses, this ready adaptability of the chair to other uses effecting a large saving of expense for the purchase of other articles of furniture to perform the same functions, besides effecting a saving in floor space, a feature readily appreciated by those who live in modern flat and apartment buildings.

I accomplish the objects of the invention by means of the chair illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part here of, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my convertible chair, showing by means of the dotted lines the positions occupied by the parts to form both a reclining chair and a crib. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the base portion of the chair, showing by means of the dotted lines the position occupied by the rockers when the chair is converted into a rocking-chair. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of a portion of the chair, as seen from the dotted line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a fragmentary detail sectional view on the line l-+t in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the rack for holding the operating lever in the desired position. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of one end of the cam operating rods. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view showing the hinged rear portion of the rockers locked to hold same rigid.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents the front legs and 11 the rear legs of the chair, which are suitably secured to the rectangular base portion 12 of the chair and upon which the usual cushion is placed.

13 represents the arms of the chair and 14 the intermediate rails which extend between the upper ends of the legs 10 and 11.

The chair is provided with the back 15 which is pivoted to the legs 11 at 16, so that the inclination of the back may be reduced to provide a reclining chair if desired. Further description of the back 15 will hereinafter be made.

The parts thus far described relate to an ordinary chair for household purposes. This chair of usual construction is provided with rockers 20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and these rockers are capable of being moved upon and away from the floor, to provide a rockingchair, or vice versa. This movement of the rockers 20 is effected by means of the crank-shaft 22 extending transversely between the rear legs 11 of the chair and the crank-shaft 2 1 extending similarly between the front legs 10.

As shown in Fig. (3 the crank-shaft- 22 is provided with a straight-away portion 26 which passes through the body of the rocker 20; thence is bent at right angles to form the crank portion 27; then bent at right angles, parallel with 26, to form the bearing portion 28 which passes through the leg 11; then bent at right angles to form the crank portion 29, and then bent at right angles, parallel with the portions 26 and 28, to form the main body of the shaft 22 which extends across to the opposite side of the chair where it is bent in a reverse manner and engages the leg and rocker on the opposite side. A. shaft bent similarly to the shaft 22 is provided to properly mount the forward ends of the rockers 20 to the front legs 10. These two shafts are simultaneously rotated so that both rockers 20 are depressed, and this is accomplished by means of a single operating lever 30 mounted along one side of the base 12. The lever 30 is mounted on a rock-shaft 33 which is carried in suitable standards and extends transversely beneath the base 12. An arm 35 is attached to the central portion of the rock-shaft 33, and by means of the connecting-rods 87 and 38 making engagement with the crank-shafts 22 and 24. the latter may be simultaneously rocked to depress the rockers 20 upon the floor when the operating lever 30 is moved from its position shown by full lines to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The operating lever moves in the rear of the rack 10 so as to hold it in position after the rockers have been sulficiently depressed. The rear and extended portions of the rockers 20 may be hinged, as at 41, to enable them to be raised into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 when not in use. This removes any objection that the ends form an obstruction. l/Vhen the rockers 20 are thus divided they may be made rigid by means of a slide latch 42. See Fig. 7.

To convert the chair into a crib, I provide a movable bottom that slides beneath the base 12. The bottom 45 is turned up at its forward end, as at 46, to provide a finish for the front edge of the base 12 when the bottom 45 occupies its inner position, and when said bottom is extended, as shown by means of the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the portion 46 provides the end for the crib. The movable bottom 45 is further provided with side-rails, formed of a plurality of flat iron bars 48, to prevent an infant from rolling out.

The base 12 is pivoted between the front legs 10 of the chair by means of a transversely extending bolt 52 and a wing-nut 53, by which the parts are clamped together in a transverse direction. By loosening the wing-nut 53 the base 12 and the movable bottom 45 may be moved to occupy an inclined position, which position can be maintained by clamping the parts between the legs 10 through the medium of the bolt 52 and wing-nut 58.

As heretofore mentioned, the back 16 may be lowered to provide a reclining chair, similar to the well known Morris chair, for adult use. This change of the position of the back is effected by means of the side brackets 60 which are provided with the numerous recesses 61 adapted to receive the usual cross-rod 62, all common to the Morris chairs in use, and the description of which is deemed unnecessary.

Thus it will be seen that I have economically incorporated in an ordinary house chair certain features that enables same to be converted into several different articles of furniture to be used for different purposes, thereby not only eifecting a large monetary saving but in the economizing of space within a room.

Having thus fully described my said invent-ion, what I desire to, secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination wit-h a chair, a pair of movable rockers, a pair of parallel shafts extending from one front chair leg to the other and from one rear chair leg to the other; cranks formed of the ends of said shafts to engage the rockers, cranks formed intermediate the crank-ends and the main body portions of the shafts to engage the chair legs, means connecting the main bodies of the shafts with a single operating-lever,

and a single operatinglever adapted to impart vertical travel to said rockers along said chair legs.

2. The combination with a chair, a pair of movable rockers, a pair of crank-shafts for mounting the rockers-and chair in operative relation, said shafts having cranked ends for engaging the rockers, means connecting said crank-shafts with a single opcrating-lever, an operating-lever adapted to impart a rocking movement to said shafts, for actuating the rockers, and means for holding said operating-lever in the desired position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 9th day of December, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and eleven.

RUDOLPH MOSKOWVITS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

